In the northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, an Ebola outbreak spread quietly for weeks before authorities recognised its severity – allowing fear, misinformation, and misunderstanding to take root in already vulnerable communities.
Health officials and witnesses say early cases of the disease were reported in mid-April in Mongbwalu, where residents first thought at the time that they were battling a 'mystical illness' rather than a viral disease, said Congolese Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba.
